Short-term responses of terrestrial skinks to habitat enhancement in a pest-invaded landscape on mainland New Zealand

What is it about?

Habitat loss is a key threat to reptiles; therefore, habitat restoration should be an effective means of reptile conservation. However, there is little evidence that such interventions provide population-level benefits, particularly where native reptiles are also threatened by introduced predators. We conducted a before-after-control-impact (BACI) habitat enhancement experiment on skinks (Northern grass skink- Oligosoma polychroma and O. aeneum - copper skink) in a predator-invaded area of mainland New Zealand. Prior to habitat enhancement, lizard monitoring was conducted in 12 plots for six months. Native plants were added to six ‘enhancement’ plots in months 8-10, minor gap infill planting was conducted in months 10-13, and rock piles were constructed in months 13-15. Post-enhancement monitoring was carried out at 12 and 23 months. Apparent survival of O. polychroma increased significantly in response to enhancement, but this did not result in increased abundance within the 23-month monitoring timeframe. Habitat enhancement did not affect any of the measured population parameters of O. aeneum.

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Why is it important?

Habitat enhancement, for example adding rocks and native vegetation to sites, may be a suitable intervention for improving survival or reducing emigration of Oligosoma polychroma (Northern grass sink) without affecting co-occurring lizard species.